Has anyone seen this Springfield 'Crossed Cannon' crest on a Krag stock before?  The only similar use I can recall is on the bottom of the pistol grip on folding M-1 Carbine stocks.

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Yes, I have owned one just like it for many years - and, I do not know what it means.

Dick Hosmer:  Does your Krag with the 'crossed canon stamp' also have initials?  Is it on a standard Krag or one that is sporterized?

It is a full-military stock, in a bit lesser condition, with the same heavy "HH", and, IIRC (it's not handy just now) a legible 1902 cartouche. I'm also sure I've seen the same stamp in conjunction with a "JJ" mark. I've never spoken with anyone (including the late Bill Mook) who knew what it was.

The metal it came with (which COULD have been 482440, unfortunately that is not now verifiable) did not match the stock date, however. This might indicate that the mark is indicative of some sort of refurbishing - arguing against that, however, is the fact that the metal of 482440 is extremely nice, far better than the stock in question. Somewhere, long ago, I acquired a very nice 1902 (1903 would be a better match, but have never found one) stock for it, where it resides today.

I'm a (relative) late-comer to Krags, only getting really serious about them when the list of trapdoors I "needed" became hopelessly out of reach. I'm sure I passed over some good ones, when I was so narrowly focused on TDs.

Dick Hosmer:  Thank you for your replies regarding the 'Ordnance Department Escutcheon emblem' marking.  It is fascinating that the same marking appears over the letters "HH" on your unaltered '98 rifle stock.  I wonder if there is a significance to their being on very high serial numbered actions?  I guess I only recall seeing the Ordnance Emblem on WW2 Stocks (M1 Garands, '03-A3 Springfields, and M1 Carbines).  I can only remember the small version being on the pistol grips of folding M1 Carbine Stocks.  Cool, another mystery I'll have to keep an eye open for!

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